President Bola Tinubu, Wednesday, unveiled his new ministers following their confirmation by the senate, last week.
The Senate last Monday, August 7, it would be recalled, confirmed 45 ministerial nominees out of the 48 nominees forwarded to it by President Bola Tinubu.
Ms Lola Ade-John, the new Minister of Tourism
The confirmation followed the consideration and approval of the nominees during the Monday plenary.
From the commencement and conclusion of the screening exercise at the senate, tourism operators and other stakeholders alike had mounted a media siege to the Federal Government calling for a separate ministry of Tourism in order for the sector to fully actualise its full potential and economic contribution to the growth for the country’s economic growth.
Highlight of the Wednesday’s unveiling came the appointment of a new Minister of Tourism, a development which followed intensive clamouring in the country following the neglect of the sub- sector of the economy for decades by subsequent administrations.
Stakeholders had mounted an appeal, including intensive lobbying for a separate ministry of Tourism in the country.
The new ministry is headed by Ms Lola Ade-John, described as a banker and a seasoned Information and Technology expert.
Ms Ade-John is regarded as a leader in designing, integrating, deploying, and managing core systems for global banking institutions.
With the creation of a Tourism ministry, it is expected that more agencies and parastatals will be added to it to beef up the new ministry, in addition to the existing two agencies operating in the Old Ministry of Culture and Information.
Only the National Institute for Tourism and Hospitality (NIHOTOUR) and the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) cater for the demands of subsector, presently.
It would also be recalled that country’s immediate past minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who also oversaw affairs of Tourism, was recently officially appointed the Special adviser to the Secretary General of the United Nations World tourism Organisation (UNWTO), Zurab Pololikashvili.
The following is the complete list of 37 newly-appointed ministers and the ministers of State out of the 45 already confirmed by the senate for President Tinubu’s cabinet.
Lateef Fagbemi- Minister of Justice & Attorney General of the Federation
Nyesom Wike – FCT Minister
Mairiga Mahmud- Minister of State, FCT
Festus Keyamo – Minister of Aviation
Adebayo Adelabu – Minister of Power
Adegboyega Oyetola – Minister of Transportation
Dele Alake – Minister of Solid Minerals
Muhammed Idris – Minister of Information & National Orientation
Mohammed Badaru – Minister of Defence
Bello Mattawale-Minister of State, Defence
Abubakar Kyari- Minister of Agriculture & food Security
Abubakar Momoh- Minister of Youths
Bosun Tijani- Minister of Communications and Digital Economy
Yusuf M. Tuggar- Minister of Foreign Affairs
Wale Edun- Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of The Economy
Dave Umahi- Minister of Works
Mohammed Ali Pate- Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare
Betta Edu- Minister of Humanitarian Affairs & Poverty Alleviation
John Enoh- Minister of Sports
Bunmi Tunji-Ojo- Minister of Marine & Blue Economy
Atiku Bagudu- Minister of Budget & Economic Planning
Joseph Utsev-Minister of Water Resources & Sanitation
Shuaibu Audu- Minister of Steel Development
Sabi Abdullahi- Minister of State, Agriculture
Doris Anite- Minister of Trade & Investment
Simon Lalong- Minister of Labour & Employment
Zephaniah Jisalo- Minister of Special Duties
Adegboyega Oyetola- Minister of Transportation
Lola Ade-John- Minister of Tourism
Hannatu Musawa- Minister of Culture and Creative Economy
Tunji Alausa- Minister of State, Health & Social Welfare
Uju Kennedy- Minister of Women Affairs
Tahir Mamman- Minister of Education
Yusuf T. Sununu- Minister of State, Education
Minister of Environment-Kaduna State Nominee
Minister of Petroleum Resources – Yet to be allocated
Heineken Lokpobiri- Minister of State, Petroleum Resources
The Ministers-designate are expected to be sworn-in but on a date yet to be decided by President Tinubu.
